Pivotable structure

ABSTRACT

A pivotable, sliding, glazing structure is disclosed which comprises one or more panes supported between upper and lower guide-rails for horizontal sliding movement along the rails. Each pane has a leading edge and a trailing edge and is adapted to perform a pivoting motion about its leading edge at a respective predetermined position for each pane along the guide-rails. This is achieved by means of a pivot arrangement carried on the pane and arranged in the vicinity of the leading edge. The structure allows the pivot arrangement to be locked against further sliding movement when each pane reaches its respective predetermined position by displacing a portion of the pane inwardly so that at least a part of the pivot arrangement is held in a receiving element mounted on one of the guide-rails.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pivotable, sliding, glazing structureprimarily intended for use on balconies, verandas, terraces, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional glazing for balconies or the like consists of a plurality ofsashed glass panes mounted on upper and lower guide rails and adapted toslide laterally past one another. A major disadvantage with this type ofglazing is that at most only 50% of the glazed-in area can be opened.Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the panes are awkward to clean.

Glazing structures have thus been proposed in which the panes can bestacked against a side wall of the balcony by pivoting about a verticalaxis. In WO 89/05389 this is achieved by means of a double upper railarrangement having a straight outer rail and an inner rail which curvesinwardly towards the side wall of the balcony. Two slides are providedon the upper edge of each pane, one of which moves along the straightouter rail and the other along the inner rail. Within the curved portionof the inner rail the trailing edge of the pane turns inwards and thepane can be opened against the side wall of the balcony. Such anarrangement is however not particularly aesthetically pleasing andconsiderable friction can arise in the system.

In an effort to eliminate these drawbacks, WO 90/121183 proposes astructure in which the top edge pivot pin of the glass pane is fittedwith a latch which immobilizes the pivot pin with respect to the upperrail when the pane is pivoted about the pivot pin. Since the leadingedge of the pane is held stationary, no curved guide rail for thetrailing edge is required. Whilst eliminating some of the disadvantagesof the prior systems, the arrangement according to WO 90/121183introduces its own drawbacks, one being that the pane must be tilted todisengage the upper trailing wheel from its guide rail before pivotingcan commence. Since the leading edge of the pane is locked first onlywhen pivoting has commenced, there is a risk that the trailing wheel maynot disengage should the pane topple back before pivoting commences. Thefact that the leading edge is locked only once rotation has commencedfurther implies that a flange protruding from the upper guide railadjacent the opening for the trailing wheel is required to support thetrailing wheel during the initial opening operation. Such protrudingflanges hinder the possibility to mount curtains or blinds across theglazing. In addition, because only the upper leading pivot pin isimmobilized, the pane cannot be opened through more than 90° due to thefact that the lower leading pivot pin would otherwise be forced alongthe lower guide rail as a result of the change in position of the centerof gravity of the pane.

One solution to the problems described above is the subject of Swedishpatent application no. 9000287-4. Said application discloses apivotable, sliding, glazing structure comprising one or more panessupported between upper and lower guide-rails for horizontal slidingmovement therealong, each pane having a leading edge and a trailing edgeand being adapted to perform a pivoting motion about its leading edge ata predetermined position along said guide-rails by means of a pivotarrangement carried on said pane and arranged in the vicinity of theleading edge, said structure further comprising means for locking thepivot arrangement at said predetermined position before and during saidpivoting motion.

Whilst the above structure offers certain benefits over priorarrangements, actuation of the locking means is relatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a glazingstructure which is simple in construction whilst at the same timeoffering ease of operation.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is achieved bymeans of a glazing structure comprising upper and lower guide-rails, areceiving element mounted on one of said guide-rails and at least onepane supported between said guide-rails for horizontal sliding movementtherealong, each said at least one pane having a leading edge, atrailing edge and a pivot arrangement arranged in the vicinity of theleading edge, said pivot arrangement being adapted to allow said pane toperform a pivoting motion about said leading edge at a respectivepredetermined position for each pane along said guide-rails, saidstructure further comprising means for locking said pivot arrangementagainst further sliding movement at said predetermined position beforeand during said pivoting motion, said means for locking said pivotarrangement at said predetermined position comprising means fordisplacing a portion of said pane inwardly to cause at least a part ofsaid pivot arrangement to enter and to be held in said receivingelement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail in the following by wayof example only and with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a glazing structure according to thepresent invention installed on a balcony;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view along line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along line III--III of FIG. 1 withthe structure in its unlocked position;

FIG. 4 corresponds to the view shown in FIG. 3, though with thestructure in its locked position;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional plan view along line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically illustrate an anti-release deviceincorporated in the structure according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view along line VII--VII of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A glazing structure in accordance with the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a plurality of glass panes 1A, 1B, 1Csupported for horizontal sliding movement between an upper guide-rail 2and a lower guide-rail 3. Each pane presents a leading edge 4 and atrailing edge 5. The panes 1B and 1C are adapted to be slid along theguide-rails to the left as shown in the drawings until the leading edge4 of each pane reaches a predetermined position at which the pane islocked against further sliding motion and can be pivoted about a pivotarrangement shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 and denoted byreference numerals 6, 7. The pivot arrangement is carried by the pane inthe vicinity of the leading edge 4. Each pane is supported on the upperguide-rail 2 by an upper trailing wheel 28. An opening 29 is provided inthe upper guide-rail 2. The purpose of the opening 29 is to permit theupper trailing wheel 28 of each pane to exit the upper rail when eachpane is pivoted about its pivot arrangement 6. The extension of theopening 29 along the upper guide-rail 2 is dependent on the number ofpanes which are to be stackable against the side-wall 8. In this manner,the glass panes 1A, 1B and 1C can be stacked against a side-wall 8 of abalcony, generally denoted by reference numeral 9.

The pivot arrangement 6, 7 and locking means for immobilizing the paneat said predetermined position are shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 to 5.FIG. 3 generally shows the pivot and locking arrangement within theupper guide-rail 2 of the structure, though it is to be understood thatthe arrangement may instead be located within the lower guide-rail 3. Inthe shown example, the pane is suspended at its leading edge from theupper rail 2 by a wheel 10 journalled to a carrier block 11 by means ofa pivotal link arm 12. The pane is carried by the carrier block 11 bymeans of a first pivot pin 13 fixedly attached to the pane and passingthrough the carrier block 11. The pivot pin is able to rotate withrespect to the carrier block 11. The vertical separation of the panefrom the carrier block 11 may be adjustable by means of a not shown nutengaging a threaded portion of the first pivot pin 13, thereby allowingthe pane to be aligned between the upper and lower guide-rails.

The locking means for immobilizing the pane at said predeterminedposition includes a receiving element 14 mounted within the guide rail2. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the receiving element consists of ashaped block, preferably of a hard plastics, one surface of which isprovided with a plurality of wave-shaped notches 15. The number ofnotches corresponds to the number of openable panes included in theglazing structure. In the direction of travel indicated by arrow A, eachnotch presents an abrupt entry to thereby form a rear stop surface 16.From the base of the stop surface, the notch gradually shallows outuntil the top of the adjacent notch's stop surface is reached. The notchshown on the far left of FIG. 5 is intended to receive a portion of thefirst pivot pin 13 mounted to the pane 1A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.Thus, this latter notch is provided with a rear stop surface 16 and acurved front stop surface 17.

As most clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portion of the first pivotpin 13 which projects upwardly out of the carrier block 11 is providedwith a guide wheel 18. The guide wheel 18 is journalled to rotate aboutthe pin 13.

In one embodiment of the invention, an elongated deflector bar 20extending parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the panes ismounted on the guide-rail at a position at which it will be contacted bythe guide wheel 18. The deflector bar is resiliently affixed to theguide rail 2 and biased in a direction substantially towards thereceiving element 14.

In a manner which will be described in greater detail later on, thedeflector bar acts on the guide wheel 18 to maintain the upper end ofthe first pivot pin 13 within the recess 15 when the pane is beingopened and closed. To prevent the first pivot pin 13 from beingphysically pushed out of the recess 15 during said opening and closing,an anti-release device 21 is affixed to the first pivot pin 13 at aposition just below the carrier block 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As shownin FIGS. 6A and 6B, the anti-release device 21 consists essentially of amajor segment of a circular disc 22 having a chord 23. In the closed orsliding position of the pane, the chord 23 is maintained in a positionsubstantially parallel to a lower edge portion 24 of the guide-rail 2.The diameter of the disc 22 is selected such that when the pane isopened through a small angle, say 10°, the circumference of the discabuts the lower edge portion 24 of the guide rail to prevent the upperportion of the first pivot pin 13 from being displaced out of its recess15.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and8, the pivot arrangement 6, 7 further comprises a second pivot pin 30coaxial with the first pivot pin 13 and fixedly attached to the pane soas to extend between the pane and the lower guide-rail 3. The secondpivot pin 30 projects into a through hole 31 in a slide member 32 whichis arranged to slide along the lower guide-rail 3 in response to thesliding movement of the pane. So that the pane can be pivoted, i.e.opened, through more than 90°, for example if the side wall 8 of thebalcony 9 is oblique to the sliding direction of the panes, means areprovided for preventing sliding motion of the second pivot pin 30 alongthe lower guide-rail 3 as the pane is opened more than 90°. The lockingmeans comprises a cam surface 33 on the second pivot pin 30 againstwhich one end 34 of a friction pin 35 bears. The friction pin 35 extendsthrough the slide member 32 transverse to the second pivot pin 30 and isbiased theretowards by spring means 36. The end 37 of the friction pin35 remote from the second pivot pin 30 is adapted to project from theslide member 32 and abut a region of the lower guide-rail 3 when thepane, and thereby also the second pivot pin 30, has rotated through 90°.

A method of performing a stacking sequence of the glass panes of theglazing structure according to the present invention will now bedescribed for a glazing structure comprising three glass panes 1A, 1Band 1C.

From a completely closed condition in which the pane 1B is abutted oneither side by panes 1A and 1C respectively, the left-hand pane 1A ispivoted to a position in which it rests against the side wall 8 of thebalcony 9. Since the pane 1A does not need to perform a sliding motionalong the guide-rails 2, 3, its pivot axis can be fixed with respectthereto.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pane 1B is then slid to the left towardsthe predetermined position at which it can perform its pivoting motion.This position corresponds to that shown in FIG. 5 for the middle pane.As the pane 1B approaches the receiving element 14, the guide wheel 18abuts the leading edge 25 of the deflector bar 20 so that the upperportion of the first pivot pin 13 is pressed into contact with theinwardly facing surface of the receiving element 14. During continuedsliding movement of the pane towards its end position, the first pivotpin 13 is forced into the first of the notches 15 and thence on to thesecond shown notch. Since further sliding movement of the pane past thesecond notch is precluded by the interaction between the carrier blocks11 of the panes 1A and 1B, the upper portion of the first pivot pin 13is maintained within the middle notch as shown in FIG. 5.

The pane 1B can now be opened. During said opening, the disc 22 of theanti-release device 21 comes into contact with the lower edge portion 24of the guide-rail 2 so that the pane 1B cannot be pushed against theaction of the biased deflector bar 20. Once the pane 1B has been openedthrough 90°, the adjacent pane 1C can be slid along so that its firstpivot pin 13 is engaged in its respective notch 15 to thereby allow thepane 1C to be opened.

In the case in which the balcony side-wall 8 forms an angle greater than90° to the sliding direction of the panes, the second pivot pin 30 isimmobilized on the lower guide-rail 3 in the following manner.

In the closed, i.e. sliding, position of the pane 1B or 1C, the end 34of the friction pin 35 is biased towards the position on the cam surface33 of the second pivot pin 30 at which the remote end 37 of the frictionpin is fully retracted within the slide member 32. Upon rotation of thepane, the friction pin is progressively displaced to the left in FIG. 7so that the remote end 37 of the friction pin 35 begins to project fromthe slide member 32. Upon the pane reaching an open positioncorresponding to rotation through 90°, the end 34 of the friction pinabuts the circumference of the second pivot pin 30 such that thefriction pin 35 is displaced sufficiently far to the left to firmly abutagainst the lower guide rail 3, thereby locking the slide member in thatposition. Accordingly, the second pivot pin 30 is immobilized along theguide rail.

When it is desired to return the panes 1A, 1B and 1C to their closedpositions, the pane 1C, is rotated back to the position in which it liesparallel to the guide-rails 2, 3. In this position, the chord 23 of thedisc 22 of the anti-release mechanism 21 is aligned with the lower edgeportion 24 of the guide-rail 2 so that the leading edge 4 of the panecan be pushed outwards to thereby disengage the upper portion of thefirst pivot pin 13 from the notch 15 in the receiving element 11. Thepane can then be slid unhindered along the guide-rails to its initialposition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter, the pane 1B is closed,pressed outwards and slid to the right until its trailing edge 5 abutsthe leading edge 4 of the pane 1C. Finally, the pane 1A is rotated to aclosed position.

From the above it will be apparent that once a pane reaches the positionat which it is to be opened, it is prevented from further sliding motionby, on one side, the adjacent already opened pane and, on the otherside, the rear stop surface 16 acting on the upper portion of the firstpivot pin 13. To return the pane to its original position it isnecessary merely to press the leading edge outwards, for example bygently leaning of the pane, and to slide the pane to the right as shownin the drawings.

In a simplified embodiment of the structure according to the invention,the upper guide rail 2 is arranged parallel to, though slightly offsetfrom, the lower guide rail 3 so that when the glass panes 1A, 1B, 1C arein their closed position they lean slightly inwardly. In this manner,the weight of each pane ensures that the guide wheel 18 (see FIG. 3) isin contact with the upper guide rail 2. Such an arrangement renders thedeflector bar 20 superfluous since, during the stacking sequence of thepanes, as each pane approaches the receiving element 14, the force ofgravity causes the first pivot pin 13 to enter the notches 15. As in thepreviously described embodiment, in order to disengage the first pivotpin 13 from the notch 15 in which it is resting, it is necessary merelyto push the leading edge of the pane outwardly and to slide the panealong the guide-rails.

The present invention is not to be construed as being restricted to theembodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may be variedwithin the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, in theembodiment in which a spring force is required to displace the firstpivot pin into its notch, this may be provided by a spring positionedbetween the carrier block 11 and the pivotal link arm 12.

What is claimed is:
 1. A glazing structure comprising upper and lowerguide-rails, a receiving element mounted on one of said guide-rails, andat least one pane supported between said guide-rails for horizontalsliding movement therealong, each said at least one pane having aleading edge, a trailing edge, and a pivot arrangement near the leadingedge, said pivot arrangement being adapted for allowing said pane toperform a pivoting motion about said leading edge at a position for eachpane along said guide-rails, said structure further comprising means forlocking said pivot arrangement against further sliding movement at saidposition before and during said pivoting motion, said means for lockingsaid pivot arrangement at said position comprising means for displacinga portion of said pane inwardly to cause at least a part of said pivotarrangement to enter and to be held in said receiving element;whereinsaid pivot arrangement includes a first pivot pin extending between saidpane and one of said guide-rails, and said receiving element comprisesan elongated block provided with a plurality of wave-shaped notches foraccommodating a portion of said first pivot pin.
 2. The structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein at said position, said portion of said firstpivot pin is urged into one of said notches by spring force.
 3. Thestructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at said position, said portionof said first pivot pin is urged in one of said notches by gravity. 4.The structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein when said pane commencesits pivoting motion, an anti-release device associated with said firstpivot pin prevents said portion of said first pivot pin from exitingsaid notch.
 5. The structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein when saidpane commences its pivoting motion, an anti-release device associatedwith said first pivot pin prevents said portion of said first pivot pinfrom exiting said notch.
 6. The structure as claimed in claim 4 or claim5, wherein said anti-release device consists essentially of a majorsegment of a circular disc having a chord which, in a position selectedfrom a group of positions consisting of a closed position and a slidingposition of the pane, is maintained in a position substantially parallelto a lower edge portion of the guide-rail.
 7. The structure as claimedin claim 6, wherein said pivot arrangement further comprises a secondpivot pin arranged coaxially with said first pivot pin so as to extendbetween said pane and another of said guide-rails.
 8. The structure asclaimed in claim 7, wherein means are provided for locking said secondpivot pin when said pane has opened approximately 90°.
 9. The structureas claimed in claim 8, wherein said means comprises a cam surface onsaid second pivot pin and a friction pin extending transversely to saidsecond pin and spring-biased theretowards.
 10. The structure as claimedin claim 9, wherein when said pane is in its closed position, saidportion of said first pivot pin is adapted to be released from saidnotch by pressing the leading edge of the pane outwards.
 11. A glazingstructure comprising:upper and lower guide-rails, a receiving elementmounted on one of said guide-rails, and at least one pane supportedbetween said guide-rails for horizontal sliding movement therealong,each said at least one pane comprising:a leading edge, a trailing edge,a pivot arrangement adapted to allow said at least one pane to perform apivoting motion about said leading edge at a position for each said atleast one pane along said guide-rails, wherein said pivot arrangementcomprises a first pivot pin extending between said pane and one of saidguide-rails, and said receiving element comprises an elongated blockprovided with a plurality of wave-shaped notches for accommodating aportion of said first pivot pin, and means for locking said pivotarrangement against further sliding movement at said position before andduring said pivoting motion, said means for locking said pivotarrangement at said position comprising means for displacing a portionof said pane inwardly to cause at least a part of said pivot arrangementto enter and to be held in said receiving element.
 12. The structure asclaimed in claim 11, wherein at said position said portion of said firstpivot pin is urged into one of said notches by spring force.
 13. Thestructure as claimed in claim 11, wherein at said position said portionof said first pivot pin is urged in one of said notches by gravity. 14.The structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein when said pane commencesits pivoting motion, an anti-release device associated with said firstpivot pin prevents said portion of said first pivot pin from exitingsaid notch.
 15. The structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein when saidpane commences its pivoting motion, an anti-release device associatedwith said first pivot pin prevents said portion of said first pivot pinfrom exiting said notch.
 16. The structure as claimed in claim 14 orclaim 15, wherein said anti-release device consists essentially of amajor segment of a circular disc having a chord which, in a positionselected from a group of positions consisting of a closed position and asliding position of the pane, is maintained in a position substantiallyparallel to a lower edge portion of the guide-rail.
 17. The structure asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said pivot arrangement further comprises asecond pivot pin arranged coaxially with said first pivot pin so as toextend between said pane and another of said guide-rails.
 18. Thestructure as claimed in claim 17, wherein means are provided for lockingsaid second pivot pin when said pane has opened approximately 90°. 19.The structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein said means comprises a camsurface on said second pivot pin and a friction pin extendingtransversely to said second pin and spring-biased theretowards.
 20. Thestructure as claimed in claim 19, wherein when said pane is in itsclosed position, said portion of said first pivot pin is adapted to bereleased from said notch by pressing the leading edge of the paneoutward.